Finally a puzzle game that is completely unique.
The game's premise is as follows. A bunch of mad scientists have just invented a time machine, but while cleaning up the lab, a bumbling maintenance robot named Nik accidentally breaks the time machine. Now the lab is unstable and a Professor, along with several stray cats, are trapped and quickly run out of oxygen. To make matters worse, if the remainder of the Time Warp gets out, it will destroy the universe. Nik has absorbed some of the Time Warp, giving him the ability to take short trips back in time to assist himself in his mission. He needs to repair the labs' electrical circuits to be able to open the closed doors and navigate his way through the lab to rescue the professor and stray cats before the oxygen runs out. Some doors can be fixed or opened by Nik alone, but others will require one (or more) time-travelling Niks to stay behind to keep the door open.
Thus, each puzzle may require our main protagonist to take multiple jumps back in time to complete. Nik can pick up a variety of items along the way to aid him in his quest; including a spanner, blowtorch, mobile phone and even a hair dryer. There are multiple solutions to each puzzle, but upon completion of a puzzle you will be awarded with a ranking of bronze, silver or gold. It's up to you if you want to take your own 'timeloop' and attempt a level again in hopes of achieving gold.
Timeloop's game play is smooth, innovative and requires some forethought of how you will use each of your past and present Nik(s) to complete the level. To borrow a lyric, "with a bit of a mind flip, you're there in the time slip". In other words, you'll have to change your way of thinking and adopt a chess-like mentality, one or two "timeloops" ahead, if you are going to succeed. While playing through the game, I only had a few minor quibbles. First off, there seemed to be a period of a second or two right when the level starts, where you see the time counter decrementing, but you aren't actually able to move Nik yet. I'd like to see this changed so that the countdown doesn't begin, until you make your first move with Nik. I also experienced a few instances where Nik didn't seem to go exactly where I wanted him to go. Although, this was usually only an issue if I tried to touch too far ahead. Again, these are just minor issues and did not detract from my enjoyment of the game, but I thought I should mention them.
Getting gold is not an easy task, and will probably require multiple attempts, especially in the later levels as the game builds in difficulty. With a total of 32 levels and my OCD-like all-golds completionist attitude, I believe that Timeloop will provide plenty of replay value. Unless you have a memory like a steel trap, I don't know think that you'll remember the solutions for every puzzle, allowing for a fresh experience each time.
The cartoony graphics in pastel, muted colors, with hard outlining had a Dexter's Laboratory like feel to them and fit the whimsical style of the game very well. Connect2Media did a nice job with the animations for Nik doing various tasks like sweeping (while he's just sitting around waiting), using the blow torch, time-warping, etc..
Timeloop doesn't really offer anything in the manner of in-game music, instead you are presented with a lot of sound effects. These include meowing cats, flowing electricity, time-warps, the professor's crys for help, broom sweeping, electric doors opening and closing, and cell phones, just to name a few. While, I would have enjoyed a little crusin' music to help get my fingers tapping faster, the sound effects are all really well done. I should note that the game is not without any music at all. There is some catchy menu theme music and retro, robotic, 8-bit sounding, synthesizer jam while viewing the stats for a completed level.
Connect2Media's latest entry is an original puzzler that will both challenge and entertain you, and best of all, you don't even need 1.21 gigawatts of electricity to play. The game will appeal to players of any age, but younger players might have some difficultly with the later levels. There is a lite version available to wet your appetite, but the full version is currently on sale for only $0.99. I recommend picking up Timeloop soon, for should the price go up, you won't have the ability to loop back in time and take advantage of this low sale price...unless of course you're a little robot named Nik.
- Sound: 7
- Graphics: 8
- Gameplay: 9
- Longevity: 7
8
Great
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